MOSCOW (AFP) Oct 12, 2005Russia hailed the launch Wednesday of China's second manned space mission and said it looked forward to working with China on future spaceflight programs.

"Another power has joined the space club," the deputy head of the Russian space agency was quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency as saying after the launch of China's Shenzhou VI vessel, which is based on Russian Soyuz technology.

"We look forward to further cooperation with them in all areas, including manned space flight," the official, Nikolai Moiseyev, said. He added that Russia was monitoring China's fledgling manned space program with "close attention."

The Chinese craft with two astronauts aboard was scheduled to orbit the Earth for nearly five days before landing in the Inner Mongolian grasslands.